High programmed cell death 1 ligand-1 expression: association with CD8+ T-cell infiltration and poor prognosis in human medulloblastoma

J Neurosurg. 2018 Mar;128(3):710-716. doi: 10.3171/2016.11.JNS16991. Epub 2017 May 5.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Medulloblastoma is a type of malignant tumor arising in the cerebellum. The clinical importance of programmed cell death 1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in medulloblastoma remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of PD-L1 and tumor-infiltrating T cells, and to evaluate their relationships to the prognosis of patients with medulloblastoma. METHODS The authors immunohistochemically analyzed PD-L1 expression and CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltrations in tumor specimens from 16 patients with medulloblastoma. RESULTS High expression of PD-L1 was observed in 9 (56.3%) of 16 samples studied. High expression of PD-L1 was associated with low infiltrations of CD3+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. Patients with high expression of PD-L1 had shorter progression-free survival and overall survival times than those with low expression (p = 0.076 and p = 0.099, respectively). In addition, patients with high expression of PD-L1 and with low infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes had a significantly worse outcome, with a 5-year survival rate of 15%, as compared with the other patients, who had a 5-year survival rate of nearly 90% (p = 0.0048 for progression-free survival and p = 0.010 for overall survival). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that PD-L1 expression was associated with a reduced infiltration of CD8+ T cells and poor prognosis in human medulloblastoma.

Keywords: OS = overall survival; PD-L1; PD-L1 = programmed cell death 1 ligand–1; PFS = progression-free survival; antitumor immunity; lymphocyte; medulloblastoma; oncology; prognosis; programmed cell death 1 ligand–1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / mortality
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism*
  • Medulloblastoma / mortality
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Survival Rate
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen